Jan & Feb 1882

"The new year finds me slowly recovering from a severe illness"

 

Jan 1st. "Wrote to Donnelly about him having cut Floré at Salisbury Lodge". He answered on the 2nd disclaiming intentional rudeness. The whole of this month there we daily visits, and musical mornings, afternoons & evenings. Robert worked on making picture frames, turned work on his lathe, inlay work and fret work. Ted called most evenings. Sunday 15th "Morning Service at All Saints. Very curious performance". The 17th was said to have had the highest barometer on record. On the 22nd "Called Drake of Eversley who told me he had had Bawrumi shot about 6 weeks after he had him".

 

31st "Turned a couple of hat pegs and fitted them up in my dressing room. Sent the spindle of my lathe to Appleton (the supplier). Went to a ball at the Victoria Rooms given by the Lyons, about 300 people there. Very good floor, music, supper enjoyed it very much. "I walked home about 2.30am and Floré followed about 3.30am with Mother. Heard of the bankruptcy of Newman & Co who were bringing out Louisa's book."

 

Feb 3rd. "Went to Salisbury Lodge to meet a cousin Mrs. Fitzgerald whose mother was Anna Victoria Story, married to Major Purefoy Jervoise, had a long chat with her, she identified some of the pictures".

 

It was Vida's 1st birthday on the 8th, friends came to play with her and many family and friends sent presents. Robert was very sickly with a cold, but wrote to Horse Guards reporting his leave to be up on March 3rd. The following week "Mrs. Cole and her brother, Calland called and brought with them an Afghan Greyhound from Candahar. The dog ran away, and Calland & I had a long hunt for him, a boy found him." An order came from the Adjt. Gen. to report to Devonport where a board would assemble. This happened on the 15th at Stoke Hospital and the medical board recommended another 6 months leave.

 

Thur. 16th "Went to Devonport dockyard at 11am and met Carden, went over the Banterer which had been ashore on rocks off Galway Bay. Saw some corvettes building and the rope house etc. Lunched on board the Banterer. Took the 2.0pm express for Bristol, was in the same carriage with Sir Robert Peel who got out at Taunton where an election was going on. Got home at 6pm. Found my lathe had come and set it going. Floré and I rather seedy at night."

 

The next day he heard that Field had proposed and been accepted by Louisa, and the following afternoon he went to meet him at Salisbury Lodge. At the same place a few days later he met Mrs. Burrowes of Stradone. He got a gut band for his lathe for turning metal and heard that his leave was extended by the Adjt. Gen. to August 15th. On the 24th "Heard from Tatlow that two of my tenants' cases had been heard in Cavan on the 20th".

 

He was constantly at work on the lathe and in the end gave himself a bad back working without his support. He did as much visiting as ever and saw a lot of Lou and Field.

 

March, April & May 1882

 

Robert was still writing about the claim against him in India. Tatlow sent £100. Robert bought a trombone and sent it back the same day (!). Floré was staying in Bradford-on-Avon and wrote of a house being offered by Mr. Saunders furnished, rent free for the remainder of Robert's leave, and calling him to go and see it, which he did the next day. They went to Bradford with Vida on the 8th, the house was called The Grange. Robert sat up late smoking with the two curates.

 

He began to get toothache and went into Bradford to try and get a leech to bite his mouth but it would not. On Sunday 12th uncle Neville came over from Clifton and told them that it was true a boy had fallen off Salisbury Lodge and was dead, he returned to Clifton on the last train. Robert began to practice shooting with a pea rifle. They returned to 8 Princes Buildings on the 16th, his mother was talking of him going over to live at Bingfield. Tatlow wrote to explain that none of his tenants had refused to pay rent, but those who had not done so could not pay.

 

Robert worked away at his lathe, exchanging his 2" chuck for a 4" one. He went over the bridge one day to see the Voluteer Engineers having a field day in Lee Woods. He also went with Evelyn to see the college workshops. On the 29th he went to a concert at the Victoria Rooms and heard Sr. Piatti, Herr Joachim, and Fraulein Zimmerman. He had a letter from Ahmed Ulla Khan & had to work at deciphering it.

 

April 5th "Memorial came from the tenants at Murmod asking for a reduction of rent. This had been sent out to India and was dated Jan. 9th. Replied to it and wrote to Tatlow. Wrote also some letters about the claims against me for the India Pay Office, to Bellsi's 17th Bengal N.I., The Brigade Major, Multan & DAAG BowBoy (Bombay?)" Tatlow wrote deprecating Robert's answer to the Murmod tenants & urging him to go over and meet them; however two days later a more moderate letter came cancelling the request for a visit to Ireland.

 

Robert was busily making brackets with turned pillars and mirror insets. He complains of a bad back yet still went walking with Ted and Arthur, went to a ball (but did not dance) and dined out at the Armitage’s "Muriel was away thank goodness".

 

On Sat. 29th "Fearful gale. Got Louisa's wedding present"

 

At the beginning of May Tatlow set about evicting 2 of the Murmod tenants. (His firm's name was Tissington-Tatlow but the country people called him Terror Tatlow because of such incidents). Robert took on a house in Buxton, near Bradford-on-Avon (?), and he and Floré spend the 4th and 5th packing. On the 6th they sent off the heavy baggage, Nurse, Vida and two friends, and then followed themselves after lunch with friends arriving at 7.35pm. They noted very fine scenery beyond Derby. Their new home was called Combermere House.

 

The next day, Sunday, they went to church twice and walked to the reservoir, so no one could have been in doubt that they were ready to receive calls! Robert notes that Lord F. Cavendish and Mr. Burke had been murdered in Dublin. The new surroundings seem to have put fresh energy into Robert, or perhaps it was the course of baths prescribed by Dr Shipton. He went to the band almost daily (to listen or play?) and walked everywhere. Sometimes 6 miles. On one walk with Miss Brown her petticoat came off and she put it in her pocket.

 

On the 20th Robert and Floré went to stay at Kelson Villa (Clifton) for nearly a week so that they could attend Louisa's wedding.

 

3rd "Louisa was married at Christ Church by Uncle de Courcy to Mr. Field. Uncle D. proposed bride and bridegroom; Field did not respond, much to everyone's disgust. They left by 3pm train for Windsor. Ted and I sent off their wraps which they left behind by the 5pm train. Dined at S. Lodge and sat between Aunt Fanny and Aunt Louisa Luard. Uncle G. made good fun after dinner with all manner of jokes in the drawing room. Ted came over to smoke after dinner.

 

Two days later Robert sent Hames and Emily on ahead to their new house, Church St House at Bradford-on-Avon, and he and Floré went there by train the next day. They were met be Fred and Mr. Saunders and started work immediately unpacking and arranging, and got on so well they could dine at home that evening. At the end of the month, they went to Trowbridge to buy a piano.

 

June 1882

June 1st. "Worked at my lathe until I got a very severe pain in my back, Mrs Saunders, Ned & Wheler came in after lunch. I had to lie down all afternoon. Very bad night"

 

2nd. "Put up horns etc. in the hall and staircase. Mrs Saunders, Fred and Ned called and helped. Letter arrived from Multan Brigade Office to say that the charges against me for doctors railway fare was withdrawn and the regulations modified to meet future cases."

 

3rd. Robert drove to Road with Ned Saunders to see a carpenter's bench for sale there, and on the 5th saw the auctioneer in Trowbridge about it. His back was bad that day and the next and he had to lie down a lot.

 

7th. "Rowed down the river with Fred Saunders to Avon cliff taking Floré, Nurse and Vida with us. Sailed home and went to tea at the priory." Next day Robert and Ned drove to Road for the auction at which he bought the carpenters bench, some tools, cut decanters on a stand and a large hall clock. The two of them found they had been bidding against each other for the clock. Robert's old pain came on in the night and he took some morphia to get some sleep.

 

10th. Robert's promotion to Captain appeared in the papers. During the ensuing days the round of social calls began to gain momentum. Robert rowed on the river and was elected to the Rowing Club, was photographed with Floré & Vida, bought glasses at another auction, & went fishing. He notes on the 18th "Anniversary of Waterloo".

 

The following day he took the train Cardiff and went to Maindy Camp where he saw Ted on parade. Ted asked him to dinner at the mess of his regt - 3rd Battalion Welsh Regt, late Royal Glamorgan Militia & they slept in Tes's tent together. Next morning a whole party of them arrived - Miss Bowen, Floré, Mrs. Bush, Louie, Gussie, Miss Smith Gordon, Wheler & George. They lunched at the camp and saw the inspection of the regt. In the evening they all went to the Regt ball "a very good dance. I retired early and fell asleep in my clothes utterly wearied." He woke at 6.30am, undressed and slept in bed till noon. There was a Mess dinner that night with speeches and songs to mark the end of Militia training.

 

They returned to Bradford on the 22nd and Robert had the first of many lessons in wood turning with Wicks. Next day he met Mesdames Denning & MacIver to discuss a concert to be given at a bazaar "they sang very badly".

 

At the end of the month Robert's back was giving some trouble but he was working at his lathe & at picture frames, took a day trip to Clifton & went rowing.

 

 July & August 1882

July 1st was a fairly typical day. Robert worked at picture frames, went for a long row, fished for an hour and tried songs with a friend in the evening. He joined the swimming club and went swimming most days, often before breakfast. He was very much troubled with his back and had to rest but continued working at his lathe and visiting.

 

17th, "The whole house was very much upset. Sent for Dr Highmore who took away some of the water for analysis.

18th All of us rather queer after our dose.

19th Rossiter's man came round and opened the well in the larder and found the water polluted. Spent most of the day at the Bazaar, played and sang three times at the evening concert."

 

Robert had daily reading sessions with Frank (Beg??) who came to stay on the 17th perhaps as a paying guest (?) needing tuition (?). On the 21st "Received my Afghan War Medal." He played tennis for the first time since returning to England, he won but broke one of the Priory windows.

 

On the 3rd of August Robert was called to London and appeared before a medical board at No. 6 Whitehall Yard. Next day he & Floré and Frank went to Clifton and found Fran with his eyes very bad indeed and went to get him some glasses. They watched Australia vs. Gloucester cricket match at the college. Robert and Floré were paying bills in Clifton & found the Stacey's (tenants / friends ?) servants had been ordering things in their name at Giles. "Wrote to Stacey about his servants".

 

Monday 7th (Bank Holiday) Robert and Frank drove to Echo Bridge for the Yeomanry Tournament. Various family parties and friends from Clifton visited, they played tennis, and Wicks showed Robert how to turn knobs and rosettes on the lathe. "Heard from Stacey about Mary & Kate, answered that I was not satisfied with his explanation" but next day "Heard from Giles to say he did not think Stacey's servants meant to cheat us; destroyed letter written last night and wrote again."

 

12th. "Heard from the Military Sec. that I must apply for half pay. Worked with Wicks at turning a pair of spiral candlesticks (MN D-W had these).

14th. "Spent most of the day watching Wicks cut out and finish a pair of spiral candlesticks."

15th. "Emmie came in after dinner, we broke the legs of the sofa."

16th. "Floré took Fran into Clifton, to see Cross." Robert and 5 others went boating up to Staverton and did not get home until 8.30pm.

19th. "Went with the McIvor party up the river in Martin's boat. Threw a small cad into the river because he cheeked the party in the boat."

21st. "Signed and sent in my application to retire on half pay. Mr. Saunders and his clerk Sparks being witnesses. Went for a picnic with a large party to Bradford Wood. Took the Saunder's large boat onto the upper water sailing up with a strong wind the mast broke off at the step - fixed it up and went on. Had a very pleasant day. Fran was unwell and could not come & Floré had to stay & look after him. Wheler, Brooke and Beaver came to supper, Ned looked in afterwards."

 

During the next few days Robert wrote to Wazir to thank him for Vida's bracelets and bought a second parrot. Floré managed to drop some of Fran's belladonna into Frank's eyes so that he could not see to read or write. She took Fran to see Cross again but there was no improvement. Frank's eyes were still so bad he went to the doctor who said the effect would wear off gradually, so he went driving donkeys in the Saunders' cart and Robert went sailing.

 

Sept. & Oct. 1882

At the beginning of the month Robert's fret machine broke down but he soon got it mended. He was making doors for a cupboard also turning a small box for Wazir and making other things such as a watch stand and letter weight. He practiced some dance music and played (with Millington) for several dances at the Priory tennis party and dance. His name was in The Gazette, as retired on half pay, and Ted's as having joined the reserve of officers. When making calls with Floré and Fran he remarks that he had to push the perambulator! He took up the carpet in Frank's room as he was spoiling it, Frank bought a dog. Robert started a scrap book about the war in Egypt & notes on the 13th "Tel-el-Kabin taken by Sir G. Wolsley." He joined the church choir and was asked to read the lessons.

 

30th. "Went for a walk with Fran and spoke to him about the way Mother has been speaking to me."

 

On the 2nd Oct. his mother came and fetched Fran home by train.

5th. "Wrote to Tatlow about Cullen evicted tenant at Murmod from whose lawyer I heard today. Letter addressed to 'Crosdoney, Bristol!!'. An old French soldier came to the door asking us to buy some lace made by his wife, which we did, to help him to America." Robert spent the next two days making a perch for the parrot.

 

Sunday 8th was Harvest Festival in Trinity Church (Bradford). Robert attended three services and read the lesson morning and evening. There were very large congregations especially in the evening. He made another watch stand and Floré began some wood carving. "Flywheel of the factory opposite exploded but hurt no one."

 

On the 16th he worked all day with Wicks making a chuck for his lathe and then turning the bottom of a candlestick. After dinner he and Frank went to the Chantry for the first meeting of the Choral Society. Thereafter he went almost every Monday evening, as well as church choir practices on Thursdays.

 

During the 17th and 18th he turned some small buckets of yew and sent them to be mounted at Ballards (MNDW I have one of these, about 2" high, 1½" across at the top, lovely dark wood with white metal rim top and bottom and a curved handle) The next three days he and Wicks worked at lengthening the bed of the lathe, fitting a treadle, facing down faceplate etc. He and Floré went to Clifton for the day on the 21st to see Os who "seems thin & knocked up".

 

There was rain and snow and hail all day on the 24th and floods came up to the cellar steps. Robert turned a sugar basin. The next day the cellar was flooded "water higher than it had been known for 50 years. Got Ned's small boat and rowed about the streets all day with Frank and Ned helping those whose houses are under water". Next day the floods had gone.

 

26th. "Fitted a new treadle & wheel to my lathe - found it did not act - sent for Milsom's man to measure for a crankshaft. Brought up our boxes from the cellar to dry them. Row with the cook - Emily Hames had a very bad faint. Loaded some cartridges."

 

27th. Walked up to Dewing's house and drove with him to his farm where we spent the day rabbit shooting - bagged 15. Choir practice. Wheler and Adye came in afterwards.

 

"Fitted new shaft and wheel to my lathe and began some salt cellars."  Then a second flywheel and made an egg-cup, a round ball, and a finial(?) for a table in walnut. Floré, Nurse and Vida went to stay at Kelston Villa.

 

In Oct also Ted was at Hythe School of Musketry. "2nd Section. No. 8. 3rd Welsh Regt E.J. Story" He passed out with a 1st class certificate as instructor in the theory and practice of musketry - Dec 5th.

 

Nov. & Dec. 1882

Robert had to speak to Frank about visiting the Hewett’s too often, and on the 1st had a letter from Mrs. Hewett about it. Frank went to Bath for his first singing lesson. Robert turned another part of a table and 6 tool handles for Col. Magrath. Mrs. Bush wrote asking if Floré could stay on and advising dispatch of a gas stove. Robert worked at a table leg and put the gas stove in the hall.

 

On the 8th "Heard from Mother that Tatlow intends writing to me about our affairs which are very bad. A boy at Clifton College stabbed the headmaster. Heard from Tatlow that he has sent £100 to Cox for Floré. Put up Frank's magic lantern at the Priory. Went to amateur band practice."

 

11th. "Walked to Monkton Farleigh and spent the day shooting rabbits with Dewing. Oswald came from Clifton to spend a few days."

 

12th. "Went to three services at Trinity Church. Wheeler and Adye to supper. Wheeler made Frank an apple pie bed for which Frank soused him." 

 

14th. "Os and Fran went home. Musical afternoon at the Saunders very bad music and very slow."

 

Robert finished the legs of his table and got some wood for the top, then he began a pair of compasses. The table was finished with the help of Wicks, but next day Robert altered the legs. He made a match stand of old oak for Dewing. Alice Draper called for them on the 24th and took them to see the meet of the Queens Buck Hounds at Lord Cork's place.

 

Sunday 26th. "Two services and lessons at Trinity Church. A Canadian missionary preached even. Avery good extemporary sermon, he having left his M.S. in the vestry, which he only found when in the pulpit."

 

Robert went to Oxford on the 29th to stay with Wheeler in lodgings at 50 Corn St. "Tiresome journey, ½ an hour to wait at Didcot. Very cold." 

30th. "Went for a walk with Wheeler in the morning and saw some of the celebrated buildings - saw the river in the afternoon and took a walk through the parks. After dinner went to a debate at the Union on Home Rule. Christie and Walter, two college friends of Wheeler's spent the evening with us. Walter was at Taunton with Ted. Hard frost."

 

Robert stayed in Oxford for the first three days of Dec and saw the Bodlean, Ashmolean and University museums, Exeter chapel, heard viva voce exams at the schools and went to a morning service at St. Mary Magdalen’s, "sermon about 48 minutes long", met Markham Marshall, and to evening service at Exeter where he heard two anthems. He also met Mr. and Mrs. Sabin Smith who asked him to visit them after Oxford, so on the 4th he went to Harbury House, Leamington. Here Mrs. Sabin Smith showed him the sights - the largest railway cutting in England and a windmill. He cut up some wood for turning and mended Mrs. S S's music box. He had an invitation from Mrs. Evans to go to her after Leamington. "Wrote to Floré & Wheler."

 

7th. 37 the Avenue, Sunderland. "Left Harbury by the 9.10am train - came here via Birmingham, York & Durham etc. got here at 6pm. a nine hour journey. Floré forwarded me two agreements to sign reducing two tenants rents nearly one third."

 

He stayed 12 days during which he had a box of extra clothes sent, saw a steamer ashore in the harbour, went onboard the Durham & saw Vidal working in silver. On the 13th "Wrote a letter in French to Frank. Went to the club and saw the library, winter garden and museum. After lunch Hudson took me over the Govt. chain testing works where I saw some chain tested to a strain of 82 tons - one set of three links took the strain and the other set broke. Also, an anchor testing to a strain of 20 tons. Then went over a ship which the Hudsons are building for cargo." Robert got some information from Hudson about the original Bingfield at Hexham.

 

He went to Durham and saw the cathedral and castle. When walking through the Sunderland docks he saw that the Gladys had been got off but another ship was stuck. Another day he went to Newcastle and saw over Sir W. Armstrong's works at Edswick; "Very stupid boy from the offices showed us round".

 

19th. "Walked over to Monkwearmouth Colliery and found Parrington at the office - he lent me some clothes and we went over the engine room, workshops etc. and then down the mine about 1800 feet. Spent a couple of hours or more seeing the working and then came up again. Changed and got home about 3.30pm. Called on Searles with Evans."

 

20th Church St. House, Bradford. "Took the 8.30am train and reached this place 7.15pm having been 11 hours on the road with scarcely a stop of more than 5 minutes, except at Durham and Bathampton. Found the place very dreary with everything packed up. Went to the Priory for dinner."

21st. "Commenced to pack up my lathe and workshop - got two small milling wheels mounted - worked with Wicks till 8pm.

22nd. "Finished the packing - paid some small bills. Went up to the Priory after dinner. Adye and Wheler came into smoke, Adye went early but Wheler stayed working with us till 2am."

23rd. "Sent Frank & Vida with Nurse by the 11.37am train. Floré and I lunched at the Priory and left be the 3pm train for Bristol. The servants got left behind but their luggage went on. The Fields came in after dinner. Letter from Tatlow advising that appeals should be dropped." His address was now 36 Canynges Square (Salisbury Lodge).

 

On Xmas Eve they went to church at All Saints, his mother and the whole family were there. Christmas day and Boxing day were spent with friends. On the 27th Robert stayed in bed all morning but went to a ball in the evening "Went to Bristol with Os and Ted about arrangements for this evening's dance. Went to Kelson Villa to see Vida whose cold seems a little better for a change. Mother gave a dance for about 100 people which turned out very well." The next day Robert, Os and Ted drove to Clevedon. So ended the year.